A highly anticipated matchup in The W takes place Sunday afternoon, bringing together two of the league’s hottest teams as the Lynx host the Fever.
Indiana enters on a five-game winning streak, while Minnesota counters with a league-best nine consecutive wins.
Following the All-Star break, both franchises have elevated their performance significantly.
Minnesota benefited from the return of Napheesa Collier, who made an immediate impact after recovering from offseason ankle surgery by delivering a 24-point, 10-rebound double-double in her season debut.
Meanwhile, Caitlin Clark has guided the Fever to four straight double-digit victories, propelling the team to the top seed in the Eastern Conference.
The hosting Lynx are favored by 5.5 points at FanDuel Sportsbook, with the Fever installed as +176 underdogs on the moneyline.
Fever vs. Lynx WNBA pick, prediction
The Fever’s 19-10 record can be credited to a high-powered attack that has evolved beyond a solo act, creating ample opportunities for fellow All-Stars Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston to thrive, as both have posted career-best numbers.
Mitchell has started in all 29 games and is averaging 23.6 points per contest, the second-best mark in The W behind only A’ja Wilson.
Boston has proven why she was selected as the top pick a few seasons ago, putting up 17 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. The South Carolina product has fine-tuned her 3-point shooting to 45.6%.
In Indiana’s recent 112-98 win over the Fire, Clark recorded her fourth career triple-double of 26 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.
The floor general’s perimeter shooting and court vision have spearheaded a Fever offense that now boasts a league-leading 115.3 offensive rating and pace (99.57) entering Sunday, per WNBA Advanced Stats.
The only concern is that on the opposite side of the court is a formidable Lynx defense, whose mix of veteran players and young talent makes them strong contenders once again primed for a postseason run.
After dropping back-to-back games to the Liberty and Sun to start the month, Minnesota finished July undefeated behind the stellar guard play of Kayla McBride and rookie standout Olivia Miles.
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This guard tandem presents a defensive nightmare for opponents, and the reintegration of Collier into the lineup has taken Minnesota to another level of offensive efficiency (113.1 offensive rating).
Miles has emerged as the frontrunner for Rookie of the Year, posting averages of 19.4 points and 5.8 assists. Alongside veterans McBride, Courtney Williams, and Natasha Howard, the TCU product has surpassed expectations, helping the team to a 21-6 record before Collier’s return added three more wins.
The Lynx’s 102 defensive rating is second only to the Valkyries and just ahead of the Mystics and Dream.
It is worth noting that the Fever’s most recent setback occurred against the Valkyries in July, and their largest margin of defeat this year came at the hands of the Dream in a 17-point loss.
Indiana has been unguardable of late, but containing a stifling Lynx group that holds a WNBA-best 11-4 home record is quite the task.
I expect Collier to cover her line of 19.5 points, which she has exceeded in four of her last five games against the Fever. I am also backing Minnesota to extend its winning streak to 10 with a home victory.
THE PLAY: Same-Game Parlay (+143, FanDuel): Collier Over 19.5 points (-113) + Lynx moneyline, (-215)
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Mike Turay is a sports journalist and editor who closely follows the NBA, NFL, college sports and UFC. He has demonstrated expertise in both NBA and NFL player prop bets for nearly three years. Mike is also highly knowledgeable about the sportsbook offer landscape, frequently trying and reviewing the latest apps and sites.
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